Kirby's Dream Land

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Kirby's Dream Land
Developer(s)	HAL Laboratory, Inc.
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Designer(s)	Masahiro Sakurai
Platform(s)	Game Boy
Release date	JP April 27, 1992 NA August 3, 1992
Genre(s)	Platform game
Mode(s)	Single-player
Rating(s)	ESRB: K-A (Kids to Adults)
Media	2-megabit cartridge

Kirby's Dream Land, known in Japan as Hoshi no Kirby (星のカービィ, Hoshi no Kābī^?, lit. "Kirby of the Stars"), is a platforming video game developed by HAL Laboratory, Inc. and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy handheld video game console. It is both the first video game in the Kirby series and the debut of the Kirby character.^[1] It was first released in Japan, and was later released in North America.^[2]

Kirby's Dream Land was designed by Masahiro Sakurai, then an employee of HAL Laboratory. Sakurai intended for Kirby's Dream Land to be a simple game that could be played by beginning gamers.^[3] As the inaugural Kirby title, Kirby's Dream Land created many conventions that would appear in later games in the series, including Kirby's basic moves. However, Kirby's trademark "copy" ability would not appear until Kirby's Adventure, released less than one year later.

Contents 1 Gameplay 2 Development 3 Presentation 4 Reception 5 Legacy 6 References 7 See also 8 External links

[edit] Gameplay

King Dedede has stolen all of the food from the inhabitants of Dream Land. Kirby, a resident of Dream Land, goes to retrieve the food and save Dream Land from King Dedede.^[4] Kirby's Dream Land operates similarly to other platformers during the 8-bit and 16-bit era of video games: Kirby must use various natural abilities and occasionally external abilities or items while heading toward the goal at the end of each level. Like many 1980s-era platformers, the player can accumulate points, with a extra life granted once the player has enough points. However, because Kirby lacks a save function, scores are not recorded.^[5] All levels are played on a two dimensional plane, allowing the player to move only left, right, up, and down.

Kirby's Dream Land is filled with obstacles, and the most common of these obstacles are basic enemies. The enemy that Kirby encounters most often is Waddle Dee, which became the staple enemy of the series. Some enemies such as Sir Kibble have projectiles with which to attack Kirby. In addition to these basic enemies, there are also bosses and mini-bosses. Most levels feature a mini-boss halfway through the level and a boss at the end. If Kirby touches an enemy, boss, or projectile, Kirby will lose one of his health points. The only way for Kirby to regain health is to touch certain food items. When all six health points are empty, Kirby will lose one life, and will have to start over from the beginning of the area. If all of his lives are lost, the game will end.

Kirby is able to walk, swim, jump, fly, and inhale a variety of enemies and objects. Kirby is able to fly for an indefinite amount of time by inhaling air and inflating himself, which allows him to reach any height not blocked or restricted by an object or obstacle. At any time when Kirby has inhaled air, he can exhale by either landing on the ground or releasing it himself. When the air is released, Kirby will exhale a puff of air, which can be used to damage enemies or destroy blocks. Kirby is also able to swim for an indefinite amount of time, and while underwater, Kirby can attack enemies by spitting water at them. Kirby is unable to inflate himself while underwater.

Kirby's main offensive technique is his ability to inhale enemies, objects, or food. Kirby can indefinitely inhale, and if an enemy, object, or food is in range, Kirby will eat it. When food is inhaled, it is automatically swallowed and will heal Kirby if he has any damage. When Kirby inhales an enemy or object, it remains in his mouth. At this point, Kirby can either shoot it out as a star that causes damage to anything in its path, or simply swallow it and destroy it altogether.

[edit] Development

The character of Kirby was not always planned to star in this game. Originally, he was merely a dummy character that the developers used until they could fill the character graphics in with a better image. However, the designers grew to like Kirby so much that they decided to keep him instead of using a more advanced character. He was originally named Popopo, and Kirby's Dream Land was titled Twinkle Popopo. Eventually, he was renamed Kirby and the game was renamed as Hoshi no Kirby (literally Kirby of the Stars).^[6]

During the development of what was then referred to as Twinkle Popopo, Popopo/Kirby's colour had not been decided upon. Masahiro Sakurai wanted him to be pink, while Shigeru Miyamoto felt that he should be yellow. Eventually, Nintendo decided to make him pink. Although pink is still Kirby's main colour, later games have shown Kirby in a wide variety of colours, including yellow. When Hoshi no Kirby was first released in Japan, it featured Kirby in pinkscale. However, Nintendo of America designed the North American box art and advertisements with a white Kirby based on the game's grey-scale visuals.^[6]

[edit] Presentation

The visuals are presented in two dimensions using pixelated sprites and environments. They are in black and white, similar to all other Game Boy video games. The grey-scale visuals caused confusion with the North American box art, resulting in Nintendo of America presenting Kirby as being white.^[6] As it was released prior to the Super Game Boy, it does not gain any enhancements when played on it.

The music was composed by Jun Ishikawa. He was the only composer for this game,^[7] and has been a regular composer in the Kirby series. His most recent work was on Kirby: Squeak Squad in 2006.^[8] Certain songs were also reused in the Super Smash Bros. series as the background music of the Dream Land stage in Super Smash Bros.^[5] and the Green Greens stage in Super Smash Bros. Melee.^[9]

[edit] Reception

Critical reaction

Kirby's Dream Land has an average of 69.2% at Game Rankings with three reviews.^[10] Nintendo Power reviewed Kirby's Dream Land on a scale of 1.0 to 4.0, giving it a 3.0 in graphics and sound, a 3.7 in play control, a 3.6 in challenge, and a 4.0 in theme and fun. It was reviewed by George and Bob, regular reviewers at the time. George and Bob shared roughly similar opinions of the game. George stated that it is a really fun game, owing its quality to its excellent play control and well thought out concept, while Bob stated that it is deceptively simple looking, when it in fact features a decent challenge for more experienced gamers.^[11]

Consumer reaction

In Japan, Kirby's Dream Land has sold more than 1.45 million copies since its release.^[12] It was re-released as a Player's Choice title in North America,^[13] indicating that it had sold a minimum of one million copies in that region.^[14] Specific North American and Australian sales figures have not been released.

[edit] Legacy

Kirby's Dream Land has since spawned dozens of sequels across more than a half-dozen video game consoles. The first sequel was Kirby's Adventure, and was released on the Nintendo Entertainment System console. It introduced the ability to steal powers from enemies, an ability which has been used in the majority of games following it. Two titles were released afterwards sharing a similar title. The first was Kirby's Dream Land 2, also for the Game Boy. It takes the ability to steal powers from enemies introduced in Kirby's Adventure, and adds the ability to ride on animals. The next and final similarly titled video game in the series was Kirby's Dream Land 3 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

Kirby's Dream Land has also appeared on several other consoles in some shape or form. In Kirby's Adventure (as well as its remake), Stage 7-6 is a heavily condensed version of this game, including black and white backgrounds, the Green Greens theme music, and similar enemies as well.^[15]

Kirby's Dream Land later made a more significant appearance in Kirby Super Star for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, which is advertised as having "eight games in one" on the cover. The first of these games is Spring Breeze, which is a remake of Kirby's Dream Land. Notable features not found in Kirby's Dream Land include the ability to steal powers from enemies and the ability to summon an enemy as a helper to aide Kirby in battle (a feature introduced in Kirby Super Star). However, some content from Kirby's Dream Land is missing. It was later re-released in Japan through Nintendo Power.^[5]

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• List of Kirby games

[edit] External links

• Kirby's Dream Land at MobyGames
• Kirby's Dream Land at GameFAQs
• Kirby's Dream Land at IGN
• Kirby's Dream Land at GameSpot

v • d • e Kirby series Main series Dream Land · Adventure / Nightmare in Dream Land · Dream Land 2 · Super Star/Fun Pack / Ultra Super Deluxe · Dream Land 3 · 64: The Crystal Shards · Amazing Mirror · Canvas Curse · Squeak Squad · Kirby (Wii) Side games Pinball Land · Avalanche · Dream Course · Block Ball · Star Stacker · Kirakira Kizzu · Tilt 'n' Tumble · Air Ride Characters Kirby · Other Characters Other List of Kirby games · Kirby: Right Back at Ya! (Episodes)